Modsports heads back to Mallory

More than 30 original Modsport and Thundersaloon racers from the 1970s and '80s will once again drift around Mallory Park circuit in Leicestershire on August Bank Holiday Monday.

Created by the Classic Sports Car Club, the race will mark the start of what the organisers hope will become a full-blown series in 2012, reuniting some of the greatest V8 saloon racers and drivers that ever competed in the UK.

Dave Taylor, Mick Hill, Vince Woodman and Alistair Thompson will be just some of the star racers from the Modsports era, exactly 35 years ago to the day since Gerry Marshall took the 1976 Modsports Championship in Vauxhall’s DTV-sponsored Baby Bertha. See some great vid of Gerry and Bertha here.

The CSCC’s Richard Wos is passionate about bringing the series to a younger generation of race-goers: “This is the first bespoke race series of its kind this century and, with its noise, speed and drama, it’s sure to appeal to a younger generation of motorsport enthusiasts, as well as those spectators who have fond memories of the original Modsports race series."

To explain the presence of the modern (rather too prominently in our view, but we would say that) in the pictures, Vauxhall Motors, which sponsored Baby Bertha in period, has donated the latest 6.2-litre, 431hp VXR8 to act as course-car.